Belgian fractional ownership provider European Aircraft Private Club (EAPC) has taken delivery of a third PC-12 to increase availability to members. Having signed for its first Pilatus prop at EBACE 2014 and received a second last December, a fourth aircraft is due in 2017.

“For the time being, all the aircraft are located in Belgium, but we also have owners from Switzerland, the UK and France,” says manager Denis Petitfrere. “We would like to open other bases: a second one in Belgium and another elsewhere in Europe. This PC-12 is similar to the other ones that we already have. The first and second one share the same engine type and the cabin interior is the same for all three.”

Despite the company's growth and changes in the regulatory landscape, Petitfrere has no plans to enter the charter market: “We know that it is easier in terms of regulations now to operate SET but we don't want to go through the process of getting an AOC at this time. The main reason for this is the operational limitations. We want to remain in the private sector.”

The company is headquartered at Charleroi airport, about an hour's drive from Brussels. Petitfrere has noticed that many of its clients are changing their flying behaviour as a result of recent events: “Due to the terrorist attack in March in Brussels, we are now operating some new routes. Some of our owners were still using the airlines when they were travelling to Geneva or Zurich, but due to heightened security it takes so much time now to get on board. This is one of the reasons why we are seeing expansion – because people are choosing us instead.”